Quarterback Devin Gardner is Michigan’s best hope for a berth in the Big Ten championship game. It’s been ten years since the Wolverines won the Big Ten, and the pressure is mounting on Brady Hoke to lead his “Michigan Men” back to national prominence.

Gardner just needs to be consistent. He completes 60% of his passes, TD's vs INT's is 2-1, and he can run but he's had too many games where he's looked awful. Akron, Penn St., MSU, Iowa were all bad games but then he turns around and absolutely shreds Ohio State. Of course playing behind the worst O line in the country didn't help but he just needs to settle in and take control. In what little I've seen of Morris he looks like he can play and certainly doesn't lack an arm but this is Gardner's team. I at least feel a little more comfortable knowing if Gardner goes down we have a capable back-up.

IDK what to make of Gardner. You see flashes of brilliance from him like his performance against the Domers in UTL 2 and think he could be one of the all time greats to ever wear the winged helmet. That was one of the single best performances that I have ever seen from a UM QB in my lifetime. He stood in the pocket in the face of oncoming blitzers and repeatedly delivered strike after strike to his hot reads. Unfortunately, we also saw Devin fall apart and looked completely lost for large stretches against Akron, UConn, PSU, Nebraska, Northwestern and Iowa. The NW and Iowa games were particularly awful. In those games, the o-line held up well in pass pro (especially against NW) but Devin had happy feet, ran himself into sacks and was consistently late in getting the ball out of his hands. He should've been picked off at least 4 times against NW, if not more. We'll see how he does this year. Barring injury, I can't see a scenario where Gardner isn't the starter for Appy State. I do believe that the leash will be short and if he reverts back to old (bad) habits like holding onto the ball too long, locking onto his first read before the ball is snapped or running backwards away from the LOS when under pressure, Nuss will have a quick hook.

I'm hoping that better coaching and gameplanning plays a role. During the games last season when he struggled, he appeared to be playing not to make mistakes which is what he ended up doing. I want to see more of the gunslinger from 2012 this season.

BTN re-played the 2012 NW game last night, so I watched most of the 4th quarter and OT. I want to see that Devin play again, while being a little more careful with his passes.

He is only as good as the running game. A QB"s success is paramount to a good running game. If UM can run DG will no question be effective not even a question of talent. If you cant run and have to throw twice as much or be deceptive with your running like UM last year then put in Shane or his unborn son or whoever because it wont matter if you cant run.

ALL great QB's who teams win big games have had good running games and the ones that didn't have running games didn't become great until they did!!!

I know Phil has to write something to interest us before the season so I appreciate the read!!!

From a purely statistical standpoint, DG's season a year ago ranks in the top 2-3 in Michigan history. A lot more comes out when you look at things game by game. In all honestly it comes down to not trying to do too much and eliminating the colossal f**k up plays. If Devin cuts out the horrific decisions and throws into coverage, running into pressure, turning his back on the defense, etc he could post a monster year.

DG's talent is off the charts but he doesn't trust his teammates, tries to do too much, and gets into his own head. Getting better play from the surrounding players will certain help but there are things that Devin just can't do and that's completely on him to cut out.

Let’s face it….Gardner’s not really a QB, he’s a really good athlete playing QB in college and will most likely go undrafted and have to jump on with a team as an UFA.

Now onto next season…yes, our OL blows a fat D…but it doesn’t all fall on their shoulders because even when Gardner has had time to throw, he makes sh*tty decisions with the ball. It just compiles when he doesn’t have time to throw and gets smothered. I still can’t believe we lost 4 games in November…that sh*t is unacceptable, goddamn….4 games in November!?!?

Our D should be solid…special teams should be able to get buy, won’t win us any games and shouldn’t lose us any games either. The season will hinge on OL and our QB…we have enough talent at RB and WR to put up points…but the difference between 7-6/8-5 or 9-3/10-2 will strictly lie on the shoulders on OL and QB.

Go Blue!!

Ohio St.'s actions are not unlike their lower intestine: stinky and loaded with danger.

I disagree, in late 2012, with a more seasoned O line, Devin did a great job, He has a good arm and was even placed on the Hiesman watch list at the end of that season. I think Devin's growth as a QB was stunted for two reasons 1) Al borgess 2) he was switched to wide receiver. I think he is gonna be great this year.

I disagree, in late 2012, with a more seasoned O line, Devin did a great job, He has a good arm and was even placed on the Hiesman watch list at the end of that season. I think Devin's growth as a QB was stunted for two reasons 1) Al borgess 2) he was switched to wide receiver. I think he is gonna be great this year.

Interesting you mention this. The BTN replayed the 2012 UM/NW game on Saturday night. Even though Devin had a very good game statistically and we won in dramatic fashion in overtime, many of the same issues that plagued Devin in '13 were present in that game. Devin was late with many of his throws, showed poor pocket presence and locked onto his first read even before the ball was snapped. Imho, Devin is, in many ways, the same QB that he was in 2010 as a freshman. There's no question that the kid has a very high ceiling but, he simply has not progressed as much as he should have. Some of that can certainly be chalked up to coaching/system changes and a brief switch of positions from QB to WR back to QB. Some of it may just be that he doesn't have "it". I've had someone very close to the program compare Devin to former Oklahoma QB Landry Jones to me, not so much in style but in how they process the game. Both put up very good numbers on paper but, for some reason, things don't click like they should between the ears for either player.

Devin still has one more season to put it all together and there is no question that he will have the best QB coach he has ever had in Doug Nussmeier guiding him. I'm rooting like hell for him. I want to see good kids succeed, especially a local kid like Devin.